Filling machine



March-18 1 924. 1,487,414

E. H. WEATHERHEAD FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet liITTQENEY- March 18 1924, 1,487,414

- E; H. WEATHERHEAD FILLING MACHINE Fnea Oct. 13, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 2March 18 1924.

E. H. WEATHERHEAD FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. I5. 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 5II INVENTQR Edward fl. /1764 /fie/fieac WITNEssas 09% $2M. 7, M 9

Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,487,414 PATENT OFFICE.

EnwAnn H. WEATHERHEAD, or CLEVELAND, 01110, ASSIGNOR TO THE BISHOP-BAB-COCK-BECKEBCOMPANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, a CORPORATION or 0210.

FILLING MACHINE.

To all whom it may comem:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. WEATHER- HEAD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga,

and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in FillingMachines, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present improvements relating, as indicated, to a filling machine,have more particular regard to a device for filling botthis with syrupor other liquid prior to the introduction into the bottles of thegreater ortion of the liquid with which they are to e filled. Thus inthe filling of bottles with ginger ale, root beer or other soft drinks,it is customary to first supply one or more ounces of concentratedextract in one machine, and then to transfer the bottles to anothermachine, in which they arecompletely filled with plain or charged waterto make the desired beverage. lhe present invention consists of amachine for thus preliminarily filling the bottles with one or moreounces of syrup. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and relatedends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly point- 7 ed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my imrovedmachine shown partially in section; igure 2 is an enlarged sectionalviewof the syrup compartment and operating mechanism for filling, shownintheir normal positions; Figure?) is a section on line 3-3 in Figure 2;Figure 4'is a similar section, but: with the valve in a differentposition; Fig-.

ure 5 is a side elevation of the valve; Figure .6 is a section taken onthe same plane as Figure 2, but showing the valve in the position shownin Figure'4; Figure 7 is a section through the valve taken on the line7-7 in Figure2; Figure 8 is a section of the valve on the line 8-.8 inFigure 6; Figure 9 is a section of the valve on the line'99 in Figure 6and Figures 10 and 11 are other sections of the valve showingthe same indifferent operative positions, these sections bein taken on the line 9-9in Figure 6.

eferring now to Figure 1; the machine consists of a base 1 upon whichare mounted uprights 2, constituting a framework. Centrally mounted insuch base is a vertically disposed support 3, upon which there isrotatably mounted a series of vertically movable supports'or bottleholders 4. These bottle holders are movable vertically by means of apiston 5 operating in a cylinder 6, which is connected at both its upperand lower ends with a source of fluid pressure supply by means ofconduits 7 and 8 respectively. The bottle holders or lifts rest normallyupon a sup-porting table suitably mounted upon the central support 3. Itwill be seen that the general construction of the machine is similar tothat of the well-known rowhich is connected by means of various valves14, 15 and 16 tochambers or reservoirs containing various kinds ofliquids such as syru Extending through the conduit 11 is a uid pressuresupply conduit 17, which is connected at,its upper end to a suitablesource of fluid pressure supply and which connects at its lower end to alateral conduit 18 which is branched and leads to either end of cylinder6. The lower end of the cylinder 6, that is the space below the pistonin the same, is always connected with conduit 8, but the upperpart ofthis cylinder is normally disconnected from the conduit.

18 by means of a valve 20 rotatably mounted in the filling arm 9. p

The syrup supply conduit 11 connectsby means of a passage .21 with theupper part of a syrup dispensing chamber or cylinder 22, which ismounted in the -filling arm 9 directly above the bell mouth 10. Theupper part of this syrup chamber 22 is connected to the lower part. bymeans'of the passage 23, which may be opened or closed as desired bymeans of the valve 20, as is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Operating in thecylinder 22 is a piston 25, which is connected to a second piston 26operating in a second and aligned cylinder 27, which in turn isconnected direct to a larger piston-28 operating in a third cylinder 29.This lastnamed cylinder 29 is connected at its upper end to the airsupply conduit 17 by means of a pipe 30. The upper position of thepiston 28, and henceof the pistons 26 and 25, which are connectedthereto, is limited by means of a stop in the form of an adjustable rod31. This rod 31 extends beyond the cylinder 29 and such extendingportion is marked off as shown in Figure 2 by lines which representounces of syrup admitted to the dispensing chamber 25. In this way anoperator can accurately control the amount of syrup supplied to eachbottle of the dispensing chamber.

, The cylinder 29 is at all times connected by means of a passage 90with the air supply conduit 18. By this system of passages adifferential action is secured in the cylinder 29 as follows:

jVhen air is admitted above the piston 28 the piston is forced down,since the air pressure is acting down on the upper surfaces of pistons26 and 28, and up only on the bottom surface of piston 28. When the airpressure above the piston 28 is discharged, then the pressure betweenpistons 26 and 28 will exert a differential. action or 7 shown inFigures 1 and 2. Assuming that a bottle is in position on the holder 4when the machine has rotated through a certain distance, an arm 35,attached to the valve 20, is operated by means of a'member 36. Beforethis operation the valve 20 is in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3,and the new position of the valve is shown in Figures 4 and 6. The valveopening device 36 is shown at the right of Fig. 1, which comprises aframe 50 having a pivotal lever 51' and an arm 52 attached thereto, theend 53 of which normally projects into the path of a bottle as itreaches a position opposite this opening device. The rod 52 is held inthis position by means of a coiled spring 54 pressing a plunger 55 outof engagement with the cam or valve operating arm 35. A bottle on thestirrup however acts to press the rod 52 outwardly and force the plunger55 inwardly into the path of the arm 35. Means, illustrated at the leftin Fig. 1, as an adjustable cam lug 56 projecting into the path of thearm 35, when the valve 20 is open, 18 employed to actuate said arm toreturn the valve to'its normally closed position.

After the valve 20 has been operated and' moved into position as shownin Figures 4 and 6, the various parts of the machine are operated tosupply syrup in a measured amount to the bottle. When a valve is movedin the manner just described, the piston 5 is ,raised in the cylinder 6,since the air pressure in the latter is then allowed to escape throughthe passage 7 into an intermediate connection 40 in the valve 20 to theatmosphere. By thus exhausting the pressure above the piston in thecylinder 6 the air pressure below the same is enabled to lift the pistonand with it the bottle holder 4 forcing with it a bottle into the bellmouth 10. This exhaust of air from cylinder 6 is made slightly inadvance of the admittance of air to the cylinder 29, as best shown inFigs. 8 and 9 in which the exhaust passage 40 is provided with a lateraloffset 100 which will allow the air above the piston 5 to exhaustslightly ahead of the admission of air to cylinder 29 as the valve isrotated in a counter clockwise direction. These two actions follow sorapidly that the operation is almost simultaneous but the difference intime is just sufficient to allow the bottle to actually reach itsposition in the bell mouth before the syrup begins to flow into thebottle.

When the bottle is so positioned in the filling spout, air pressure isadmitted to the top of the cylinder 29 through the passages 30, 43, 18,17 and a passage 41 formed in the valve. This air pressure on the top ofthe piston 28 forces down this piston and also forces down the piston 25which acts upon the syrup in the chamber 22 to discharge the samethrough a passage 81 formed in the valve and connecting with the spout.

When the bottle is thus filled, the machine has rotated to such a pointthat a. second cam operates against the arm or trip 35 to return thesame to its normal position, thus moving the valve back to the positionshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The filling bell mouth 10 is formed with an.undercut recess 61, thus providing a shoulder against which is placed acollar 62 disposed slidably about the filling tube and normallymaintained in contact with such shoulder by means of a spring 63. When abottle is positioned in the spout it forces up the collar 62 andcompresses the spring 63. The compression of the spring is suflicient toovercome the sticking of the bottle in the spout due largely to thesyrup, when the bottle lift starts to fall. Upon this return movement ofthe valve the escape of air from the upper part of the cylinder is cutoff by the valve and air pressure being admitted to the cylinder througha passage 43 connecting with an intermediate passage 44 in the valve.The pressure is balanced on both sides of the piston 5,

rod attached to the lower side of the piston 5 which causes a greaterpressure against the upper side, this excess pressure forcing the pistondown.

At the same time the passage 30 leading from'the top of the cylinder 29is connected to the atmosphere through a passage 45 in the valve, thuspermitting the pressure on the under side of the piston 28 to raise thispiston and also the piston 25 in the syrup chamber. Such movement of thepiston 25 will draw syrup through the: passage 23 and through the valve(see Figure 3) into the syrup chamber 22. On the piston 25 there isformed an annular rib 91 which seats in.the lowest position ofthe pistonupon a washer 92 which is placed upon the bottom of the cylinder 22,this rib acting as a valve to prevent any leakageof syrup past thepiston when the piston is in its lowermost or filling position. By usingthis rib and 'washer, it is unnecessary to provide any packing for thepiston itself.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, pro

vided the means stated by-any of the following claims or the equivalentof such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a syruping machine, the combination of a plurality ofradially arran ed horizontally disposed rotatable filling arms, each armbeing a single member and being provided with separate passages forsyrup and syrup discharging fluid pressure, a centrally disposed syrupsupply conduit connecting with such syrup supply passages in said arms,a fluid pressure supply conduit disposed centrally within said syrupsupply conduit and connecting with such fluid pressure passages in saidarms, a plurality of syrup supply reservoirs connected to said syrupsupply conduit, and means for effectlng disconnection of each of saidsyrup supply reservoirs from said syrup supply conduit.

2. In a syruping machine, the combination of a plurality of radiallyarranged, horizontally disposed rotatable filling arms, each arm being asingle member and being provided with separate passages for syrup andsyrup discharging fluid pressure, and having mechanical means operableby fluid pressure to discharge syrup, a centrally disposed syrup conduitconnecting with such syrup supp y assages in said arms, a fluid pressuresupp y conduit diposed centrally within said syrup supply conduit andconnecting with such fluid pressure passages in said arms to operatesaid mechanical means, a source of syrup supply and means for connectingthe same with said syrup supply conduit. K

3. In a measuring and discharging device, the combination of a liquidcylinder having closed ends and capable of connection to a source ofliquid, a source of liquid supply,

mechanically-operated valve means adapted to connect said cylinder tosaid supply, a piston in said cylinder and a passage connecting the twoends thereof whereby liquid may first be drawn into one end and thentransferred to the other and then discharged therefrom, said piston andthe walls of said cylinder being thereby immersed in such liquid at alltimes.

Signed by me, this 9th day of May, 1916.

EDWARD H. WEATHERHEAD. Attested by H. B. FAY, F. M. REOKTENWALT.

